Women leading and influencing

COVID Leadership

WLI

The WLI COVID-19 Leadership Fund 

The WLI COVID-19 Leadership Fund was devised in 2020 to enable WLI participants and alumni to work together to make a direct positive contribution to the COVID-19 response in their countries.  

Project teams were required to address at least one key thematic/ issue area (health, education, agriculture/ food security, and safety/ protection, including gender-based violence) and required participants and alumni to collaborate around their areas of shared interest and expertise to:

  • scope, design and cost a proposed activity, through to implementation and reporting,  
  • work with local leaders and other actors – including men – in their countries, to ensure their proposed activity added value and addressed a clear need, and 
  • practice thinking and working politically, utilising networks and other WLI leadership tools/ concepts.   

When COVID-19 forced WLI participants' traditional Workplace Internships on hold, the program diverted its resources to support alumni and participants in their exercise of developmental leadership.

The first phase of WLI Leadership for COVID-19 Response and Recovery initiatives were executed from July to December 2020, with a total of 49 participants and alumni delivering 14 developmental leadership projects in Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Watch teams in action.

Country Activity Project Participants Focus Area
Samoa Empowering mothers to keep families safe during COVID-19 Tagiilima Neemia, Falelua Maua, Ezethanie Tofilau, Della Siomia Savaiinaea Health; Education; Agriculture / Food Security
Solomon Islands COVID-19 health education rural awareness program Goretti Kodovaru, Lydia Kaforau, Kristalee Horoto Health
Papua New Guinea      Rainwater Catchment System Project Dorothy Jolly, Matilda Kapipi, Lisa Ijape Health; Education
Combatting COVID-19 through WASH in schools Marlene Delis, Lina Sanawe, Vidiro Gei Health; Education
COVID-19 Awareness and Support System Paula Zebedee Aines, Rose Polume, Janet Bue Towaki, Karen Anawe Health; Education
Economic Empowerment of women impacted by COVID-19 Clera Sam, Welenie Yaki, Rhoda Karl Safety / Security
School-based awareness for COVID‑19 in Mui-Baiyer District Rebecca Krai, Angela Pisa Tom, Michelle Silip Education
Menstrual health hygiene education and awareness Florence Siba, Anna Apop, Lavinia ToVue Health; Education
Project Proposal Writing and Management Training of Namatanai Rural Health Middle Management Personnel for Infrastructure Improvement for WASH and COVID-19 Scholar Pope, Irene Semos, Eunice Eva, Lomot Rodney Health
Papua New Guinea /Bougainville Reusable sanitary pads and facemasks for female high school students Ruline Pokote Ketauwo, Jeanne Tereasi, Dorothy Kenneth Health; Education
Fiji Integrated Farming of Fish & Poultry Aloesi Dakuidreketi, Nanise Tuqiri, Lani Ragusuloto, Laisani Macedru Agriculture / Food Security
Veinanumi Project Maria-Goreti Muavesi, Sugandha Goswami, Lilian Mausio, Laisani Macedru, Vasiti Soko Health; Agriculture / Food Security
Tonga COVID‑19 preparation and prevention-focused program Lilu Moala, Mele Mangisi, Malia Halaapiapi Vaka’uta Health
Nauru COVID‑19 Information and Awareness Initiative Greta Harris, Clarissa Jeremiah, Jasmina Giouba Health; Education

The second phase of WLI’s Leadership for COVID-19 Response & Recovery projects is currently underway, with 16 leadership initiatives being rolled out between July and December 2021 across Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Country  Initiative Project Participants Focus Area 
Fiji     Hydroponics with a HART: Promoting sustainable food security for the HART community through Hydroponics Farming  Nazia Raza,
Vani Nailumu,
Ruci Barauvula,
Mereula Lobeka		 Agriculture/
Food Security; 
Health 
Integrated Ag-Forestry Project (Phase 2 extension/scale-up of the Integrated Framing of Fish and Poultry project)  Lani Ragusuloto,
Nanise Kuridrani,
Aloesi Dakuidreketi		 Agriculture/
Food Security 
Veinanumi Project (Phase 2 extension/scale-up with increased focus on menstrual hygiene)  Maria-Goreti Muavesi,
Sugandha Goswami,
Vasiti Soko,
Laisani G Macedru,
Sera Bola		 Health 
Kiribati  Mamauri Project for Women’s Safety During COVID-19  Karee Ioane,
Marebu Flood,
Teauame Timiti,
MariaAriti Ioakim,
Save Redfern,
Teitinrerei Bobo,
Ruth Garry		 Safety/ Security  
PNG   Sustainable Agricultural Project for Mushroom Farming  Dorothy Jolly,
Matilda Kapipi,
Lisa Ijape		 Agriculture/
Food Security 
Enhancing Resilience of Women against COVID-19  Lydia Nenai,
Diana Guria,
Lavinia ToVue		 Health 
Project Proposal Writing Training for Rural Middle Management Health Care Workers in Kavieng District for Infrastructure Improvement for COVID-19 and WASH (Phase 2 extension/scale-up)  Scholar Pope,
Irene Semos		 Health; 
Education 
GBV Capacity Building and Promoting WASH at Street Food Vending Sites  Clera Sam,
Wendy Wahe,
Mavis Jimbudo 		 Safety/ Security; 
Health 
Privacy Curtains for Port Moresby General Hospital  Grace Nugi,
Elizabeth Bakri Dumu,
Rebecca Krai 		 Safety/ Security; 
Health 
Hands Up for Hygiene (Phase 2 extension/scale-up)  Marlene Delis,
Rebecca Krai,
Charles Sorom		 Health 
Promoting Safe Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood in the time of COVID-19       Dr Pamela Toliman,
Dr Janet Gare,
Dr Celestine Aho 		 Health 
Samoa  Empowering Mothers to keep families safe during COVID-19 (Phase 2 extension/scale-up)  Falelua Maua,
Ezethanie Tofilau Tuiuli,
Tagiilima Neemia		 Safety/ Security; 
Health; 
Education 
Solomon 
Islands  		 Alternate Income Generation for Women from Hospitality and airline industry who were impacted by COVID-19  Atenasi Ata,
Cora Makini,
Janish Ashwin,
Emma Sipele		 Agriculture/ Food Security; 
Education 
Reproductive Health Education and Awareness  Janice Ashwin,
Kristalee Horoto,
Goretti Kodovaru,
Emma Sapele,
Cora Makini,
Jean Uwesi		 Health; Education 
Tuvalu  Everyone Matters  Eselealofa Apinelu, 
Emma Sipele, 
Myjolynne M Kim		 Education; Health 
Vanuatu  Food Waste Management and Composting  Leisau Isobel Tarip,
Nirose Silas,
Ronaldine Tchivi		 Agriculture/ Food Security; 
Education 

Watch the WLI COVID-19 Leadership Fund video series to see phase one initiatives in action.